2014 VISITOR GUIDE & MAP INDIANA CLASSIC ELEGANCE | HOOSIER PRIDE The Indiana Memorial Union Biddle Hotel & Conference Center is located in the heart of Indiana University’s campus. Whether business or leisure brings you to Bloomington, let us help make your visit memorable. IU FAMILY WELCOME loomington is a city of contrasts, which provides residents and visitors with a wide variety of experiences GUIDE PUBLISHED BY: to enjoy. It’s a tight-knit community where neighbors VISIT BLOOMINGTON 2855 NORTH WALNUT STREET know each other, but one with a diverse and rich BLOOMINGTON, IN 47404 culture due to the international appeal of Indiana 800-800-0037 - 812-334-8900 University. This is a city where you can enjoy urban amenities, VISITBLOOMINGTON.COM like a thriving art scene, while exploring the forested landscape Thank you to all of our partners that make this guide possible and help us promote travel in Monroe County and three major lakes in the area. It’s a place that offers exciting including the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Big Ten sports and incredible theater and music from local and Commerce, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, City of Bloomington, Downtown national acts. This contrast is exemplified in the culinary scene, IU was my home. I spent a decade here. Bloomington Inc., Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Office of Tourism Development, Indiana University, where a range of international restaurants meld with American My time in Bloomington made me the Monroe County, Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center, all of our hotel and lodging partners, and anyone cafés and pizza joints. person I am today. Coming back to campus else we forgot to mention. Special thanks to Blueline, Grant Heger, InBloom Photography, IU Jacobs School of Music, There are countless opportunities to explore an array of interests, now with my kids – they feel the love that Brian Krecik, and Josh Hoering for their photography. and do it on a local—but world-class—level. This visitors guide IU’s given back to me.” Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of will help you find those opportunities, so you can easily plan “ the information published in this guide at the time of production. Visit Bloomington, our advertisers and any a fun, exciting, engaging or relaxing visit. Whatever you are organization contributing to this guide will not be liable SHONTRAI IRVING, BA’97, MA/JD’03 for damages arising out of omissions or errors. The planning, you can make it happen in Bloomington. Attorney / Foster PArent / IUAA MeMber opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent Visit Bloomington, our advertisers and any organization contributing to this guide. ALUMNI.IU.EDU The Indiana University Alumni Association welcomes you home to Bloomington! Visit us at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center, located across from Assembly Hall. Or, if you’re returning to celebrate a milestone, event space is available in our beautiful facility. VISITBLOOMINGTON.COM 2 CONTENTS 13 LISTINGS IMPORTANT INFORMATION 31 FESTIVALS & EVENTS 39 What’s your SHOPPING & SERVICES 45 OUTDOORS & RECREATION 51 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 57 favorite room? RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE AMERICAN 63 All our visitors have one, and when they INTERNATIONAL 66 call us to book a room for their next trip to CAFES & DELIS 70 Bloomington, we remember, along with other Dave and Barb always choose room #31, PIZZA 71 details like what they want for breakfast and share a plate of carmelized French toast for breakfast, FOOD TRUCKS & CARTS 71 what kind of cookies they prefer. like their bacon crispy, and enjoy a glass of wine FAST FOOD 72 on the porch at the end of the day. ICE CREAM & DESSERTS 74 BARS & PUBS 75 Whether you’re coming to Bloomington to visit your kids at IU or to relive your own college HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS 77 Choose your favorite room today at 6 memories, you’ll fi nd a favorite room — and www.grantstinn.com/visitors feel at home. Already know your favorite? Tell us on EDITORIALS MONROE LAKE 6 TRAIL BLAZING 11 WHAT A VIEW 12 FOURTH ST. RESTAURANTS 13 5 SPOTS FOR DATE NIGHT 17 MASTERING THE ART OF BLOOMINGTON 19 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES AT IU 21 THE STAGE IS SET FOR THEATER 23 On the Cover: Monroe Lake is one of CAMPUS PHOTO OPS 26 Indiana’s premier recreation areas, with THE MOST FUN WITH THE LITTLE ONES 27 opportunities to hike, camp, fish and boat—you can speed around in a ski 16 SHOPS TO LOVE 29 21 boat or take a relaxing cruise in a kayak (photo by Josh Hoering). 310 N. Grant St. • Bloomington, Indiana ™ 812.334.2353 • 800.328.4350 A COOK GROUP COMPANY www.grantstinn.com 3 VISITBLOOMINGTON.COM © COOK 2013 GSI-BADV-VB2014-EN-201310 INDIANA'S LARGEST LAKE MONROE LAKE Each season has its rewards, you just have to go and explore. by Carmen Siering hether you call it Monroe Lake (its proper mooring facilities are available, but even those who don’t name) or Lake Monroe (its popular own a boat can get out on the water by renting a boat moniker), Indiana’s largest inland lake from one of the private vendors located on the lake. offers visitors endless opportunities to get outdoors Whether you’re looking to rent a pontoon “party and enjoy the beauty of south central Indiana. boat” or a flat-bottom fishing boat, Damon Cappy, Created by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1966, general manager of Lake Monroe Boat Rental, located Monroe Lake is home to nine state recreation areas at Paynetown SRA, says the boats he rents are so easy (SRAs) and is bordered by the Hoosier National to operate he can have almost anyone on the lake within Forest, making it the ideal spot for swimming, half an hour. “We show the customer how to operate boating and fishing, but also for camping, hiking, or the boat,” he says. “We don’t let them leave until they just relaxing in nature. While the warm, sunny days are comfortable, but within thirty minutes, they’re ready of summer are the obvious time to head to the lake, to go.” every season offers its own attractions. Weekend pontoon rentals are often booked weeks in Jill Vance, interpretative naturalist for Monroe advance during the busy summer months, but Cappy Lake’s state management unit, says the lake is open says there are other rental options available if people to visitors year round, and she offers programming want to be more spontaneous. “After working all day, year round as well. “Our programming focus shifts an evening cruise on the lake is a great way for a family with the seasons,” she says. “In the summer, it’s to get out and have some fun,” he says. “In the summer, more kid oriented, and has a more recreational focus, it’s light until 9:30 p.m., and we have a lot of rentals offering a lot of arts and crafts. In the fall, we see available then.” more families camping, so there’s a wider range of programming. Moving into the winter and early spring, there aren’t as many campers, so we shift to BLOOMINGTON an adult focus, with workshops and more offerings in the community.” 446 HOOSIER NATIONAL PAYNETOWN SRA FOREST SUMMER ON THE WATER UPPER E There’s no doubt that summer is the busiest time K BASIN A L of year at the lake. Swimming at Monroe Lake is a E O R N popular activity, and there are three public beaches, O M CHARLES C. located at Paynetown SRA, Fairfax SRA, and DEAM ALLENS CREEK SRA WILDERNESS Hardin Ridge Recreation Area. Boating is popular, LOWER BASIN too. Salt Creek Causeway divides the lake into two HARDIN RIDGE RA distinct basins. The upper basin, east of the causeway, FAIRFAX SRA is restricted to idling speed. The main area of the HOOSIER NATIONAL 446 lower basin is zoned for cruising speed. Private FOREST boats can be launched from several ramps, and boat HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST 5 MONROE LAKE NEAR PAYNETOWN SRA 6 AUTUMN BRINGS MORE TO LOVE are supplemented with The rolling, tree-covered hills of south central migrants. From mid- Indiana make it the perfect fall vacation destination. November until the end of March, if you spend Family camping increases in the fall, and interpretive CAMPERS IN HOOSIER naturalist Vance says programming is geared toward half an hour at one of NATIONAL FOREST activities that engage the whole family. A good the hotspots, you’ll see example is Harvest Moon Weekend on September 12- at least one bald eagle.” 13. With campfire programs both evenings, autumn Star gazers are in for a special winter treat if the Those ready to spend more time at Monroe Lake craft activities for the kids, and a corn hole (beanbag weather cooperates, with the Geminids Meteor Shower can plan to stay. Campsites are available at Paynetown toss) tournament on Saturday afternoon, there really is Viewing scheduled for December 13. “We’ll have a SRA, Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, and within the something for everyone. campfire going to help people stay warm after sunset, Hoosier National Forest. Other, private campgrounds There’s no doubt a lot of people come to Monroe plus refreshments and a brief intro about the meteor are located on or near Monroe Lake as well. Each County to catch a glimpse of autumn leaves. If you shower,” Vance says. Visitors are asked to bring their property offers different amenities, from fully-stocked want to avoid the crowds, ecotourism operator Chafin own chairs and blankets while they wait to watch the FAIRFAX BEACH cabins with all the comforts of home to primitive says you should consider taking the view from the sky for the meteor shower.